ITALICS: March 25, 2015 Women's History Month 2015

Women’s History Month Special. This episode focuses on Italian American women in the public eye. Pop icon who often refers to, embraces, and sometimes seemingly desperately clings to her Italian roots: Madonna Louise Ciccone, aka Madonna. Kay Turner (The New School) and Chris Cuomo (University of Georgia) discuss the “Material Girl” as Italian American woman. Valerie Smaldone, one of America’s favorite voices, in radio, commercials, and television, on her multifarious career as a media personality and entrepreneur, women in media, and not being afraid to “be fabulous.” Professor Margherita gives us a lesson on Italian words for this month, dedicated to women.

The National Organization of Italian American Women celebrates the Honorable Geraldine A. Ferraro on the 25th anniversary of her nomination as candidate for vice-president and on her career as congresswoman and member of the U.S. House of Representatives; Dean Anthony Tamburri interviews her before the event. Legendary poet reads the poem "La saggazza delle streghe/The Wisdom of Witches" from his recent work Subduing Demons in America.

The once-in-a-lifetime Galileo, The Medicis, and the Age of Astronomy exhibition at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia celebrates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's "invention" of the telescope. Italics' Bill Schempp interviews Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer of the Franklin Institute. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum's Rededication ceremonies are held in Staten Island. The National Italian American Foundation honors actor/singer Paul Sorvino at the annual East Coast Gala Awards.

The Conference on the State of the Teaching of the Italian Language in the United States is held at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC. Edo Zaffarto of AddioPizzo, a community based consumer organization in Palermo, Sicily, lectures at the Wolfe Institute at Brooklyn College on pizzo, the long legacy of mafia extortion of "protection" payments from local merchants. Receptions for "Si Parliamo Italiano?" the new book which asks "Who Speaks Italian?" written and published by members of the Calandra Institute.

The New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators hold their annual Weekend Conference at the State Capital in Albany, NY. Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, Italian ambassador to the United Nations, gives a special lecture to the Coccia Institute at Montclair State University of New Jersey. Then, an interview with the North East Conference of Teachers of Foreign Languages.

Dean Anthony Tamburri interviews Senator Joseph Addabbo. NYC Councilmen Tony Avella and Vincent Gentile join with New York Italian Consul General Franceso Maria Talo in calling for aid and assistance to the victims of the recent earthquake in the city of L'Aquila. A remembrance of the late New York State Senator Emeritus John J. Marchi.

The New Italian American Cinema Festival presents the films of Nancy Savoca, Maria Maggenti, and Marylou Tibaldi-Bongiorno for Women's History Month. Also, Karen Tintori reads from her new book Unto the Daughters.

Dean Anthony Tamburri interviews the Honorable Diane J. Savino, New York State Senator. Then to Montclair State University for the establishment of the Teresa and Lawrence R. Inserra Endowed Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies.

Robert Tinnel reads from his graphic novel Feast of the Seven Fishes. Then, Joseph Sciorra speaks with the Demeglie family of New Jersey about the Italian Christmas tradition of the presepio, or nativity scene. Finally, Frances Paulo Huber, president of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens in Staten Island, previews the Center's new Tuscan Gardens, modeled after the great gardens of Florence.

Dean Anthony Tamburri interviews Piero Bassetti, Italian politician, philanthropist, author, and social philosopher. Then, Joseph Sciorra interviews Suze Rotolo about her book A Freewheelin' Time, A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties.